Real Christmas is a couple of weeks away, yes. But today is music lover Christmas. For today is the day that Reading and Leeds announce the first acts of their 2022 lineup. It’s a day that, like Christmas, has been loaded with pain and putting on a smile when you get a gift from a distant relative that you absolutely hate. It’s a day of music family infighting over whether the bookers have lost it or not. But today, there’s a pleasant lull of surprise and excitement that it actually seems almost like Reading and Leeds have just about managed to please everyone. Well, obviously not everyone, but enough.
The double stages are here to stay, but Reading and Leeds seem to have got the hang of them this time – as well as the distinction between each day. Each day announced so far is varied but cohesive, and showcasing the cutting edge of what people are listening to right now. Megan Thee Stallion and Dave headline the Friday – Megan being the festival’s first solo female headliner since Björk in 1995 – and they’re joined by the likes of Little Simz, Glass Animals, Joy Crookes, Pinkpantheress… And for the classic R+L indies and rockers, Fever 333 and Circa Waves in there for good measure.
Saturday brings a sheepish grin to the faces of last year’s line-up naysayers. Where are Arctic Monkeys? Where are Bring Me The Horizon? Well, they’re booked for 2022! Joining them for… Sheffield Saturday… are current shining stars Fontaines D.C., the dreamy festival staples Wolf Alice, and fellow festy staples Enter Shikari. And the undercard joins in, providing the upsurge of new acts making some noise in the rock world: pop-punk breakthrough Jxdn and his slightly noisier London counterpart Kid Brunswick, alongside Madison Beer, set us up for some big singalongs.
Sunday is all about magnitude. Rage Against The Machine, rolled over from 2020 and lamented not to be at 2021, will finally make their incredible appearance, and they’re joined at headliner level by Halsey – a performer, artist, and presence on every level who looks set to rival Rage for wow factor on the day. Måneskin are the other big name standout – their first year at the festival, and they’re separated from Rage by just one act? Get ready, cos this is gonna be a big one. Elsewhere today is Chloe Moriondo, Denzel Curry, Pale Waves – Sunday is a brilliant melting pot. Bring it on.
Tickets are available here.
